NOLA Running of the Bulls 2010

Here in New Orleans, we will disguise anything as a reason to drink. Especially if we can start drinking early in the morning. Well, I've found a new event I'm adding to my favorites list, NOLA Running of the Bulls. Basically, it's a pub crawl. But you dress in white with a red neckerchief and sash while you run from the roller derby girls dresses as bulls. The bulls are armed with wiffle ball bats. If they catch you they, "gore" (wack) you in the booty with the bats. Yep, it's as awesome and ridiculous as it sounds.

The idea is that everyone meets at the Three Legged Dog bar before 8AM. (Oh, yes. I got up early to do this silliness.) There's a quick ceremony to pay tribute to San Fermin. Then the running begins. (Well, there's not as much running as I would have like. But most of the participants are non-runners. ) The "run" is about a mile long to the Ernst Café, where many fun things in NOLA end.

One of my favorite parts of this event is outfit planning. Nanny Goat and I will use any excuse to plan an outfit. I figure we spent more time  discussing what we wore than we did actually wearing it. But we like clothes.

Our outfits:

Me & Nanny Goat. Cute, right?

My favorite part were the kicks. I got them for $13. I love the internet.

old school Kangas=Awesome

I had the camera so I made Nanny Goat do all the "dangerous" stuff. Like get wacked so I could get a picture. There was a gauntlet at the end where all the bulls lined up and people ran thru to get beat. I asked her to do it so I could get a picture. But the shutter speed on my camera is too slow and she is too fast. NG had lots of bruises. But she a trooper.

Nanny Goat getting "gored"

There were 4,000 participants with over 80 RollerBulls out on Saturday plus spectators. I was surprised how many people were in the French Quarter awake to watch the Running of the Bulls at 8AM on Saturday morning. 

Crowd shots

There was a special guest appearance by New Orleans' own Rolling Elvi!. These guys are a social club who dress like Elvis and march in parades and other events.

Of course, I needed my picture with the Elvi. Check out this Elvi's cape. Very well done.

And last but not least the Roller Derby girls. If I had time, I would totally join the roller derby. But they train twice a week and race one night a week. They are tough and intense and awesome. 

I love how much effort they put in there costumes. They really go all out.

Nanny Goat and I had a great time. But we didn't bring any liquor. We figured we could by it at a bar. Too many runners. Next year, we know it's not an actual race and to carry our drinks.